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God Is Always on Time

God Works in Unseen Ways

Did you know there is a book
in the Bible that does not mention the Lord’s name even once? Although God is
never referred to in the book of Esther, it is a story that has God’s divine
handprints all through it.

The story of Esther is a
common story with a surprise ending. I heard her story numerous times in Sunday
school growing up. I love the story and the deep truth that her entire purpose
was “for such a time as this.” I have always been challenged by the fact that if
she didn’t live out God’s plan, another would rise to the task. When Esther was
informed that her entire race was about to be destroyed, she prayed and fasted
and boldly went before the king. It was a great risk to appear before the ruler
without being summoned. If the king did not show her favor, she could have been
killed.

We read in Esther that the
king did show her favor and gave her audience with him. An interesting thing
about this story is that she did not make her purpose for appearing before the
king known right away. Rather, she asked for the king and Haman (the man who
authored the death warrant for all of the Jews in the kingdom) to come to a
special banquet that she was preparing. And at that banquet, her request was for them
to attend another banquet!

Why didn’t Esther immediately
inform the king about Haman’s evil plot? Why did she wait for the third
opportunity to inform the king of what had taken place?

Esther did not make her
message known to the king the first time because it was not the right time. The
king was not prepared to hear this news. In the midst of kingdom business,
Ahasuerus might have considered her accusation an act of treason if not just a
piece of palace gossip. We must always remember that God’s timing is not our
timing. God is never late!

Another reason for the delay
was that more events needed to unfold before the king could be notified. This
reason was unknown to Esther. Events took place the very night of the
first banquet that changed the whole story completely. Haman would have gallows
constructed for Mordecai and the king would discover that Mordecai had saved
his life five years earlier.

This story is a beautiful
picture of God’s sovereignty. God was definitely at work in the shadows preparing
the king for Esther’s request. We must remember that God is always at work and
always on time. Never be discouraged when you feel like God is not there. He is
there; you just cannot see Him yet!

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